Leys OTC
 

Does any one have a Leys OTC badge to show? I have seen a lot of cast yellow metal ones I suspect are post WW2 and would love to see an early brass one.

Leys OTC
 

Attached are pics of a GM version, (made by Fattorini so not that old) the 'improved metal' version, and a smaller collar badge.

Stephen.

Many thanks.

This one is maker marked Fattorini Hockley St. Birmingham so according to the firm's history dates between 1919 and 1928. Whether it is an OTC badge or not is unclear but with a vertical shank it is for a peaked cap rather than a boy's school uniform cap.


https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Fattorini_and_Sons

1919 Thomas Fattorini (Birmingham) Ltd was established at Trafalgar Works, 5 Hockley St., Birmingham to serve the business for medals and trophies of Skipton jewellery shops.

1928 the name of the Birmingham business was changed to Thomas Fattorini Ltd (Regent Street Works, Birmingham).

This photo is 1922 and shows the OTC wearing polished brass cap badges

LEYS SCHOOL OTC, 1916
 

From the Leys School archivist, here is a photo of the OTC Contingent dated 1916. I am still waiting to hear back from the school about the badge recently sold by Regimental Badges, and which I purchased.

To date, the archivist has provided me some information about the Leys School OTC (see below), and I remain hopeful that someone from within the school itself is able to shed more light on the badge in question.

"What I can tell you for now is that The Leys OTC was founded as a Cadet Corps in 1900 and became the OTC in 1909. Your badge dates from no earlier than 1914 since it is the coat of arms design that was officially assigned in that year; prior to that it had been a 'home-made' coat of arms of different design - see attached coat of arms pictures from Geoff Houghton's history published 2000 (Well-regulated Minds and Improper Moments)".

There is also a short summary of the Corps, but unfortunately it exceeds the size of allowable files to be loaded here.

It would be interesting to find out when the brass round badge was introduced. I understand they wore the Suffolks' cap badge at the outset.

There is a narrow window for the manufacture of the mystery school badge as it is not in any photos circa WW1 and by 1937 the round one is recorded in use by EJ Martin.

As is does not say OTC then it may be something else. Some OTCs did have junior cadet corps who wore different badge designs.